bygones

ClairePepper

Originally uploaded by Miss America Bygones

When I first moved here, I knew about 3 people. I knew my landlord, I knew my advisor and I knew Gilli-Bean (who I’d met on the first day of classes). To say I was anxious to meet more people, is a bit of an understatement, but given my shy sensibility at the time, I wasn’t overtly outgoing.

Thankfully, I didn’t need to be.

While waiting for my English Literature lecture to begin, I met a girl (or should I say, a girl met me), who would ask me to sit with her during lecture, then beg me to join her and her friends for lunch. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was destined to change my life forever.

Through the years, we’ve been the best of friends; at times, inseparable. We’ve shared secrets, made grand plans to rule the world, and written poetry together. She forgives me for being petty; she accepts me (and reveres me?) for being brutally honest, and we, together, enjoy a perverse pleasure in being catty. We are ‘Mean Girls’, we are ‘Bring it On’, we are ‘The Breakfast Club’.

Ironically, her journey is about to mirror mine, almost to fine detail, for on the 27th of this month, 5 years, nearly to the day, that I moved from my home country of the US to this fine city of Glasgow; my Claire will journey from our city, to the depths of the Orient, as she traverses oceans to her new home in Japan.

She will only be gone a year…so she says. I was only supposed to be here for 4 years, though, I imagine most didn’t think I’d last 4 days. I know that she’s going to fall in love with Japan, the same way that I fell for Glasgow. She’s going to find her niche there; a new home, which has been there in her heart all this time, just begging to be let out.

And if she never moves back, of course I’ll be sad. But also, the part of me which cries the most tears will also be the part which will be proud and pleased that one of my best friends has been on the bravest tours of discovery and has delighted in her own experience.

I will miss you, Pepper. But remember this…if you think that you can get rid of me by traipsing away to a far away and exotic land, well, Missy, you’ve vastly underestimated my tenacity and unexplainable need to always get my way.

God speed, my friend, and safe journey.

♥

p.s.
To Mom, Moosie, K’trina, B…everyone back home…
If you ever wanted to get payback for leaving you all there to come to this place, well, you’ve got your karma. I thought I was brave for daring to move to a new country on my own, when, really, you were the brave ones for letting me go. Thank you.xx

Piper New Years Eve

Originally uploaded by Miss America Bygones

As you know from previous episodes, Boss 2 and I get along quite well. We’re about the same age, and I don’t talk to him like a boss and I don’t think that, since Ere at IN, I have ever had such a good relationship with my superior.

Most people at the pub, those who don’t know any better, think that Boss2 and I are brother and sister. In a lot of ways we act like it. We argue every once in a while, and sometimes we fall out, but mostly, we have a good laugh.

Now, let me make it clear, that while Boss 2 and I get along well, not everyone at the pub likes him. Most think he’s ignorant, which he can be. And some think he’s just a plain asshole, which, admittedly, he can be. So, sometimes, I admit, I get a little protective of the man. And I would say, that he sometimes gets protective of me.

.

Alas, Tuesday, he pissed me off. And his foul mood continued for most of the week. I can guess at the cause of his malcontent, but as I had no solution to offer him for it, I decided it was best to stay out of the path of the bear.

Friday, however, we finally managed to break his bad mood. Inadvertantly, even.

I went into the office to return sommething I had taken out earlier, and he was sitting at the computer.

As soon as I entered, he shut down the IE Browser he’d had open, but there it was: porn.

I froze.

(Aside: I know that Boss2 is not a porn kind of guy. He’s just the ‘nice guy’ you’re always friends with and wonder how they turn out to be nice, while all the other guys turn out to be pervs. So, this porn revelation was a bit of a shocker…)

Instantly, he started stammering, ‘Oh my god, this isn’t what it looks like! I was not just looking at porn!’

Me: (disbelieving, and trying not to laugh) Uh-huh.

Him: (He’s bright red with embarrassment.) I swear, I don’t…I wasn’t looking for porn, it just came up on the screen.

Me: Whatever, pervert.

Him: (getting near hysterical) I swear! I wasn’t!

Me: And on a work computer, too. Does your wife know what you do when you’re here?

He’s rambling like a madman now
Him: No, seriously, watch this…I searched for *blahblahblah* and when I closed the window, the porn just popped up…

Me: Sure, it did.

Him: I think someone’s been downloading porn on this computer. Watch, I’ll try to get it to do it again.

(Opens up IE, does a google search, then shuts the IE window…nothing happens)

Him: I swear, when I did that before, the porn just popped up out of nowhere. Here, I’ll try it again.

(Opens up IE again, does a google search, this time picking a link, then shutting down the window….again: nothing)

Him: (really scrambling now) I swear, we’ll look through the internet history. Someone’s been downloading porn onto this computer.

Me: Yeah (snort): you.

So, this went on for a while, we found the history; we’ve got our suspicions about the culprit; but the whole incident was so funny, that all one of us has to do is just hint about it to the other, and we both just start sniggering all over again.

For a little while, at least, we’ll both know a secret way to defuse each others’ bad moods before we fall out again.

(Aside: now that I’ve written the word ‘porn’ so many times, I’m going to get all kinds of spam. Sorry, me.)

♥

Kevin

Originally uploaded by Miss America Bygones

I was in a weird mood this morning. Stepping lightly, funny, witty, a little moody, but generally in a good mood.

I don’t know what the universe had planned for everyone today, but nobody really had a great day. Everything seemed just a tad bit off kilter. Something happened to everyone.

So what happened to me? Well, everyone took their bad day out on me, that’s what.

Therefore, I was moody and a bit grouchy actually, and then grouchy even more because I was grouchy in the first place.

I actually considered going around to everyone I work with and shaking them by the shoulders one by one and saying, ‘Stop it! Just stop it! Look at me! Look what you’ve done! You’ve taken a perfectly normal day and turned it into poo! It’s POO!’

…but I didn’t.

Instead, I brooded. Laine noticed and thought she’d said something wrong to me. To be honest, she had, but I didn’t think she really meant it in a bad way, it was just another throwback to me being the community punching bag today.

Anyhow, the day brightened up after Boss 2 went home. It was as though a great weight had lifted, and we all kinda perked up a bit. This is a shame, really, because most of the time, I have great fun with Boss 2.

Alas, not today.

He wasn’t totally unbearable, and he seemed to perk up a bit just before he left when I invited him to lunch with me and Kitty Kate on Thursday. He declined, but I could tell he appreciated the invite.

Anyway, the day got better and better and then the work part of it finished and I was free to relax.

Now I’m home and contemplating a cup of tea. Kev’s on his way home, so I may put on some West Wing as well for a perfect, quiet night in.

So, here’s what I learned today: Sometimes it’s hard not to have a bad day. But you can’t make everyone have a good day. Sometimes the best way to deal with it, is not to deal with it.s

♥

I’ve been having a problem logging in lately. Well, specifically, it’s not a problem logging in, so much as it’s a problem with the laptop. I’ve known for a while that it’s been dying a slow death, but it’s finally just decided not to boot up at all, despite my urging and coercing.

So, put a tack in that information, and we’ll come back to that later.

The other day, the bosses sent me and Kitty Kate out PR-ing (or ‘pring’ as we like to call it), basically just a walk around the area handing out our flyers. First of all, I wish we’d done it the day before, as it was gorgeous outside. On Tuesday, however, it was pissing with rain, and generally just miserable weather. Not something you’d want to walk around in for very long. But Kitty Kate and I trudged around anyway for about 4 hours, putting our flyers on anything that would stand still long enough. We practically littered the University to the point where you wouldn’t be able to walk 2 feet and spit without hitting one of our flyers.

Anyhow, we returned to the pub for a wee break and to get some more flyers and the bosses asked us to go to some different places, including the laptop shop around the corner from us.

Now let me just say, we loooove the laptop guys. And they looooove us. We do trades with them all the time. They fix our computer, we give them beer. We invite them to our exclusive little parties, and they give us Ipod leads for the soundsystem, etc. So, we’ve got a good thing going on there.
They hooked up our wireless for us, and I paid them by slinging a few beers and some nachos in their direction. It’s a great marriage.

So, Kitty Kate and I went into their shop, and I did as I always do when I go in there…I oggled the laptops, and oooooh-ed and aaaahhh-ed over the shiny-ness of brand new and used laptops.

Al came up to us right away and immediately asked me if I had brought my laptop in to be fixed. I’ve been updating him on how crappy the thing is for quite some time, but that day, even though I had wanted to bring it with me to get fixed, I had forgotten. (It’s not surprising, really, as I often rid my mind and memory of things that are frustrating and broken.)

Anyhow, I got a wee lecture from Al about not bringing it in (you know, the whole, ‘I can’t fix it if it’s not here’ speech). And I looked properly ashamed at having forgotten it.

So, I asked, on a whim, if Al would give me a laptop from the store, which I would repay him with a lifetime supply of beer.

Oh, if wishing made it so. But no, he said, he couldn’t do that. Would if he could, etc.

Pleasant visit, and then Kitty Kate and I made our way back ‘home’.

About 5 minutes after we got back to the pub, Al called me and asked, ‘Would you be offended if I gave you a laptop?’

What?! Absolutely not!

So, Al showed up at half 5ish, and brought me in a little Dell Latitude. Apparently, they use computer parts to build up other computers, and this one was one they had stripped for parts for something else. It’s just a wee thing, but it does all I need it to do.

So, I got given a laptop. And boy, is it nice.

Boss 2 is a bit jealous, I think. He asked if it was for the pub, or just for me. Just for me, I said, as it was my broken laptop which prompted this whole thing.
Boss1 thinks the laptop guys fancy me. Probably, but they know where they stand.

See what I mean? They love me over there.

And I’ve proved that I am an above average public relations girl.

Oh yeah…by the way, I went out for drinks with the bosses to check out this band in Merchant City (to see if we could book them into our place), and when Boss 1 introduced me to the band leader, he said, ‘This is Dallis. She runs the place. I’m just the owner.’

ha!

Go me!

♥

Kev’s been rehearsing for his next big gig at my bar. He and Barry have been meeting once or twice a week, trying out new songs and just jamming to add more to their setlist.

With the internet at our disposal, this process is much easier than it used to be. They can think up a song, look it up, and then get wee hints and tips to chords, words, etc.

So, the other night, they started playing ‘Take on Me’ by A-ha. Well, I don’t know about you, but this is undoubtedly one of the best 80’s songs ever. I love that song. So, to hear it accoustically, it just makes my skin go all goosebump-ey.

The solo, however, is pretty tricky to play on the guitar, and though they did try, it didn’t come around right away.

So, there I am, with the kazoo, playing the little keyboard solo. (Aside: Do you ‘play’ the kazoo, or ’sing’ on the kazoo, or just ‘kazoo’?)

I thought, ‘This is it! I’m going to be a world champion kazoo artist…this will be my big break!’

That little moment of elation only lasted about as long as the solo did, because they looked at me, amused with my tenacity, and then said, ‘That’s alright, we’ll just learn the solo’.

Can’t blame a girl for trying, I guess.

Oh well. My kazoo career will never be realised (or fully appreciated).

Whatever.

I could have been great.

♥

As I mentioned, I’m pretty tired. I hadn’t realised that so much stress was going to be so tiring.

Didn’t help, of course, that I not only was I trying to run the pub on my own, but I also had to get used to Kev being home, so I wasn’t sleeping all that well. Ye know…6 months of having the bed to myself, and then all of the sudden I’m sharing it with a human starfish. Makes for restless sleep.

Anyway, Boss 2 came back, finally, and had I had enough energy to raise my arms, I would have hugged the man.

I actually arrived at work about a minute after he and Danny got there, and apparently (says Danny), Boss2 asked how I was doing and Danny replied, ‘She’s fucking knackered.’

When I arrived inside the pub, Boss 2 gave me a hearty ‘Hello!’ and asked how I was doing. I let the bags under my eyes speak on my behalf.

Anyhow, I did very well while the Boys were away, and they’re quite happy with me. So much so, that I asked for a couple days off this week to have a wee break, and I was given 4 days off (’You deserve it,’ says Boss2).

And then yesterday I got a text from Boss 1 which said, ‘I hope you enjoy your days off. Don’t want you getting too fed up. You are doing so well.’

Woo!

So, I’ve got a few days off, and I’m enjoying just hanging out. I don’t feel frantic and harried. I can plan to do things. Or not. Whatever. It’s so nice being laid-back again. I hope that this time off will have me feeling refreshed and revitalised at work when I get back.

In the meantime, at least I can meet up with my friends for a couple days at least. Or, you know, spend some quality time with Kev. Haven’t really seen him much since he got back.

♥

Last week, Kev and I went through to Hamilton to visit his Parental Unit, while his niece was visiting. She’s 7 years old and for as long as I’ve known her, she’s always had a crush on Uncle Kevin.

Last year when I met her for the first time, she kept looking at me sideways, kinda checkin’ me out, and I was ‘that girl‘. Uncle Kevin’s girlfriend.

When we went to visit last week, however, she seemed to warm up a bit, and said to Kev’s mum, ‘If Uncle Kevin marries that lady, will she be my auntie?’

Kev’s Mum says ‘Yes, she will’.

‘Auntie Dallis,’ says Sophie, thoughtfully, ‘That sounds nice.’

And then she gave me one of her bracelets.

I’m in.

♥

I’m tired.

I’ve been working my butt off, and I’m exhausted. Although I’m doing well in my position of great responsibility, I’m just knackered, and I must say that this has been the longest two weeks I’ve ever experienced (except for that one time at summer camp, which I hated).

I cannot wait until Boss 2 comes back. Not because I need him here in order for the business to run smoothly, but because I need some time off. This past three weeks of working every Thurs/Fri/Sat night has really gotten to me. I’m tired. My boy is home and I hardly get to see him. My friends are going out and having fun and I can’t go. I feel as though I’m enduring some sort of punishment.

Last night, I noticed that I was dragging a bit at work, and I must have looked pissed off or fed up or angry because different staff members kept coming up to me asking if I was OK, or if they’d done something wrong. I did my best to reassure everyone that I was just tired and in need of a break. I don’t ever take out my emotions on innocent staff members; so I was a bit upset that they thought I was mad at them.

So, I tried to pick up my droopy face a bit, loaded myself with caffeine and sweets and tried to be a bit chirpier. It helped a little, but I could see that my doggedness was affecting the staff.

When Boss 2 comes back from holiday, we’re going to have words about some holiday time for me.

So, for tonight, it’s yet another Saturday Night, but this time I’m having Kate and Lisa over to my house after work for a wee slumber party. That’ll at least give me something to look forward to.

sigh.

♥

red stripe

Originally uploaded by Miss America Bygones

Monday morning, I get to the bar, keys ready to open the shutter, and I see that the shutter is already open.

Yes! He’s back!

I burst into the cellar, half-scaring the wits out of the man, and declared, ‘Thank God, you’re back!’

‘Oh?’ he said, raising an eyebrow, ‘Were you feeling a bit exposed being the only one in charge?’

‘Not at all,’ I replied confidently, ‘I’m just glad you’re back to help me’.

He laughed at my arrogance, but it’s all good.

I trapped him in the cellar, too, until he had listened to everything I had to say about the week he was gone.

And I did not stop for breath; it just all rattled out.

Later, after I felt satisfied that I had gotten everything off my chest, he said that he was proud of me, that I had done a great job while he’d been away.

Yay!

He also said that he expected to come back and find the money in a bit of a mess, but I had written down everything I’d done, and kept track of where everything was. He was impressed.

Yeah, baby!

So, I feel a bit better now that I’m not having to run everything myself, and this week is almost finished, at which time, Boss 2 will come back and I can exhale a final sigh of relief that Little-Old-Me doesn’t have to deal with everything.

Sigh.

Also, tonight, Kev is doing a gig at my bar, (for the 2nd week in a row), and I adore (adore) walking around with pride. Everyone loves him.

Ha! Mine, mine mine!!

Alas, I better start getting ready for work; got to get that PA set up for my baby’s gig tonight.

♥

DSC00003

Originally uploaded by Miss America Bygones

It’s been over a week now since the bosses left on their holidays, and things at the pub haven’t fallen apart yet.

Well, nearly.

We have this shutter from our cellar, which, because of the noise complaints we’ve had in the past, needs to be pulled down and locked by 10pm each night.

This is a pain in the ass for two reasons: 1) we can’t take out the rubbish for the rest of the night (and we’re open til 2am, so that’s a good 4 hours worth of rubbish) and 2) no phone signal.

This shutter is also a pain in the ass for a third and very important reason: if it has been opened too far, (as in, if some ninny has pushed it too far up), it becomes jammed and nearly impossible to get dislodged.

This is exactly what happened last night, except that, in trying to fix it, we ended up pulling it off the rail completely on one side, and really really jammed it.

Well, I thought, I suppose someone’s going to have to stay the night in the pub, because we can’t go home without this shutter down.

Thankfully, it didn’t come to that, not that I would have necessarily let that happen anyway.

I ended up calling our maintenance/locksmith guy, who, needless to say, wasn’t very pleased about being phoned at 1030pm on a Friday night, but realisitically, I didn’t actually care. I wanted the shutter fixed. Now.

It took an hour, and a hammer, and a screwdriver, and some pleading requests for a hacksaw (which, thankfully, we didn’t have), and boychef managed to finally coax the shutter down.

What a relief!

Then, not 5 minutes after we fixed it ourselves, the maintenance guy showed up.

T’anks, dude. We got it.

An hour spent on that stupid shutter. I’m going to have that thing fixed while the bosses are gone. They’ve known about the problem with it for months (years?), and haven’t done anything yet. I think this is my opportunity.

Oh yes, I am taking advantage of the bosses’ holidays. Oh yes, I am.

Wouldn’t you?

♥